You are here

Although these aircraft are designed for intercontinental travel, fliers more often prefer them for their interior space rather than their long-distance capabilities. Families can take them from the mainland to Hawaii for weekend getaways, but more popular uses revolve around special events—the Super Bowl, the Indy 500—where companies can host clients or top-performing salespeople. Charter rates start at $4,750 per hour, and a one-sixteenth fractional share (50 annual hours) costs about $2 million.

The FAA certified the Challenger 604, which was preceded by four models (600, 601-1A, 601-3A, 601-3R), in 1995. By mid-1999, Bombardier had delivered 100 of the 541 mph planes, and two years later, the Canadian company upgraded the cockpit avionics to reduce the pilot’s workload. There are currently 287 Challenger 604s in service.